It was Rihc who pointed out to me that you can't actually see the sea from Old Course, only the Eden Estuary.
My introduction to golf in Scotland began in South-West Scotland, namely Southerness, Stranraer and Portpatrick, back in the 60s (1960s, not 1860s!) and, happily, you get some good (to great) sea views from all three. But it wasn't only the sea views that I remember. This was a time in my teens when I was a very average golfer (still am) but my father was opening my eyes to what I now understand as course architecture. Southerness made a big impression on me and I having revisited the course (albeit with the holes in a different order) and I can understand why it did. It is clever, subtle and brilliant on a site which offers no natural advantages other than a burn and lots of gorse. And it was built for next to nothing. I love it and its remote situation. I have been back to Portpatrick and was disappointed to find that they had added a few token bunkers to what had been a thoroughly good bunkerless course. It's not a great course, but there are some very good holes and the situation is marvellous. Of Stranraer (which I have only played the once, more than 40 years ago) I remember rather too little, apart from one hole where you drive off from a cliff top down to a fairway beside the beach. I think it was one of James Braid's last courses.
We also played Kirkudbright which was then a 9-hole course. Or, more properly, we played three or four holes, before my father bent down to retrieve his ball from the hole, did some damage to his back and that was it for golf in 1966 or was it 67?
I think my next Scottish adventure was The Old Course. My father-in-law had been Professor of French at St Andrews and my wife had been at school there. It was a very sporty school (St Leonard's) and she played cricket, hockey, lacrosse, tennis to a very high level. Strangely she didn't play golf. But her brother did. He was at boarding school not in St A's but he played on the various St Andrews courses every day in his holidays. He was a good player. In the late 70s and early 80s he and I had many a trip to St A's. Naturally we played the Old Course pretty well every day. Green fees were not prohibitive and at Easter you didn't even need to bother with the ballot. We also played the Eden (before the alterations) and New, although I've only played the Jubilee with my wife, once before it was altered, and we both hated it. Nicolas and I were round the Old Course in a little over two hours (out record was 1 hour 45 minutes!) so we also played Crail, Leven, Lundin, Ladybank, Golf House Club, Scotscraig and we even ventured over the Tay to Carnoustie, Monifieth, Panmure and Montrose. But one of the most destructive places we played was Dollar. It's only a modest little course, but it packs quite a punch. I must go back.
But this post is about perspective. My most recent Scottish experience was Trump Scotland. I was very impressed by it. But I think of the old courses in terms of perspective. None, apart from the Old Course, is actually that old. Most are works in progress. I have no objection to that - improvements in equipment, fitness and everything else are discussed endlessly - but possibly my most seminal experience of Scottish golf was some years ago at Leadhills. It's not an old course, but it certainly is primitive. I met the wonderful Alfie Ward and played the course with his hickories and gutties. It was a great experience and I think it is recorded in the 'In my opinion' section of GCA.
Looking back, I think the thing about Scottish golf was how natural it was, not how manufactured it has become.